Accident
On July 22, 2013, at about 0715 Pacific daylight time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopter, registration N115SH, sustained substantial damage when its tail rotor struck the ground. The accident occurred at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aircraft and Flight
Sundance Helicopters operated the helicopter as a visual flight rules (VFR) local instructional flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight-following procedures were in effect. The flight instructor and pilot-rated student were not injured.
According to written statements provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by both the instructor and student, the purpose of the flight was to transition the student to the accident helicopter, which is flown from the left seat position instead of the standard right seat. The helicopter did not have dual controls, and the instructor was seated in a rear seat, observing over the student's shoulder.
Instructor Account
The instructor reported that the initial pickup to a hover was overcontrolled, with the helicopter moving fore and aft and exhibiting a slight yaw. In the hover, the movement continued, and the yaw increased. He stated that the helicopter felt like it was bouncing from skid to skid and fore and aft.
Student Account
The pilot-rated student stated that as she lifted the helicopter into a hover, the nose yawed to the left. She countered with right pedal. She reported that the helicopter then started to "jump," and she lowered the collective to set it on the ground. The jumping worsened, and the instructor told her to lift the helicopter again, which she did. She said the helicopter became uncontrollable and struck the ground. She subsequently set the helicopter on the ground and shut it down.
Damage and Examination
An examination by an FAA inspector, along with photographs provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, revealed substantial damage to the helicopter's ventral fin and tail rotor drive system. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported that would have precluded normal operation.